Ballina Flouride Vote Has Experts Worried

[icyfroth]

Ballina will vote on Thursday on whether to reject fluoridation of its water supply. If it does, it will join nearby Lismore Council and 17 Queensland councils that have voted no to fluoride this year.

Children living in parts of northern NSW without fluoridation already have the worst teeth in the state. They have nearly double the number of decayed, missing and filled teeth compared with other children, according to the most recent dental health survey.

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/ballina-flouride-vote-has-experts-worried-20130821-2safg.html#ixzz2cfdzree...

Some anti-fluoride activists, such as Merilyn Haines, the president of Queenslanders for Safe Water Air and Food, argue that fluoride is a poison that is used as an insectide to kill roaches and ants.

But Ballina Council member Keith Williams, who proposed the motion, said he saw it as a human rights issue.

“I don't dispute the scientific evidence of dentistry that it prevents cavities, but I don't believe it is appropriate to add a medication to the water supply without everybody's consent.”

He does have a point there. There's something sinister about a government putting poison in your drinking water and telling the public it's for their own good.

 Still, I've been drinking flourodised water here in Sydney for years and it hasn't done me any harm, and I still have my own teeth, albeit with lots of fillings, lol.

Surely the rise in tooth decay in children in the last few decades can't be solely due to unflourodised bottled water!?

Are we taking into account that children are drinking more soft drinks and juices and less water than ever before? 

Should councils flourodise drinking water?

[the_great_she_elephant]

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@twinkles**stars wrote:

councils are really not quailified to be making such decissions....take a look at the constant mistakes they make

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The state's chief medical officer, Dr Kerry Chant, travelled to Ballina this week to persuade counsellors to vote against the motion, (i.e to vote against rejecting fluoride. ) arguing there was no scientific or health evidence to show fluoride had negative effects on health

Is the state's chief medical officer qualified to advise the counci?l

[monman12]

TS: "councils are really not quailified to be making such decissions....take a look at the constant mistakes they make"

I thoroughly agree,  it should be left up  to those  with the scientific expertise in the discipline involved, not  people who in their quest for position (power) do not wish to "offend" an  often just as uninformed rabble, the voters.

I nominate that as an authoritative  professional  body, suited and knowledgeable in dentistry, and with 90% of Australian dentists as members, that  their views/suggestions of the ADA be adopted.

nɥºɾ

[serendipityricho]

With water supply--at the introduction stage who decides how must will be put in?.

-is it---Fred may have forgot yesterday so we will chuck in a couple of extra bags.

This is what worries me....................................Richo.

[twinkles**stars]

Not sure Richo and an interesting point....some days here the chlorine smell when turning the tap on is just about over powering 😞 Other days nothing. The days when is seems strong the dogs refuse fresh water and will go outside to the birdbath

[twinkles**stars]

I should imagine there would be an auto dispenser installed

[freakiness]

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@twinkles**stars wrote:

So if the majority wanted a road built through your house that's the way it should be? Sure, right.

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That happens all the time. It's called compulsory aquisition.

[freakiness]

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@monman12 wrote:

TS: "councils are really not quailified to be making such decissions....take a look at the constant mistakes they make"

I thoroughly agree,  it should be left up  to those  with the scientific expertise in the discipline involved, not  people who in their quest for position (power) do not wish to "offend" an  often just as uninformed rabble, the voters.

I nominate that as an authoritative  professional  body, suited and knowledgeable in dentistry, and with 90% of Australian dentists as members, that  their views/suggestions of the ADA be adopted.

nɥºɾ

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Especially given their vested interest in servicing people with dental problems.

[twinkles**stars]

Yes freaki I know what it's called but am3 thinks the majority should get what they want....does that make it right?

[cherry*135]

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@freakiness wrote:

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@twinkles**stars wrote:

So if the majority wanted a road built through your house that's the way it should be? Sure, right.

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That happens all the time. It's called compulsory aquisition.

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Not a very good example. If a road was to be built through my house, it would be the Roads &Transport Authority (or equiv) that would  be attempting acquisiton/buy out,  not the majority of my neighbours or other locals.

[icyfroth]

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@am*3 wrote:

The majority of the people are happy to have fluoridated water. For the minority who don't like it .. drink bottled water (without added fluoridation) or get filters that will filter it out of your  home tap water... simple.

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The majority of people probably either don't know or don't think twice about it, or know anything about fluouride.